Improvement in hemmers and folders



one of the 'plaits. Fig. 3 is a plan' of the plaiter which f .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. t

JOHN srlwmrsl AND FnANcis srnvnNs, ron Nnwyonk, N. v.

iMPRovEMi-:NT 1 HEMM ERS 'ANn FoLDER's.

Specitication forming 'part of Letters lntent No. 3|.833dllfedMnrrli 26,1861.

10 dll whom, 'it mcy concern:

,Be it known that we, JOHN STEVENS and FRANCIS STEVENS, ofNew Xorlqinthe county'ot' New York and State ot N ew York, have invented anew and Improved Machine for Foldin gShirt-'Bosoms, the construction and operation'ot which we have described in thet'ollowing specification and illustrated in its ac-' compan yin g drawings with sncient-clearness to enablexcompetent and skillful workmen in the arts to which itpertains orfis most nearly allied to make and use our invention.

(Jur invention consists in First. The combination of feed-rollers with plaitersorslats for'niakingthe plait's, so that the cloth being drawn forward (by means of tlie revolution of a crank attached to the shaft or axis on whiphthe rollers' revolve) and passing through betweeuthe plaitersis caused to `assume the form proper for plaitsL` Second., The combination, with the plaiters',

. ot' a hammer or apparatus for turning the hem -on the inner edge ot' the shirt-front."This `hemmer is constructed in two parts, each ot' which is twisted or turned over once,the1ower.

0r outside piece turning the cloth over once, ,and the upper or inner piece or guide, in combination with the motion of the'cloth, turning itthe second time. t i Third. The combination ofthe spreader, asl hereinafter described, with the hemmer and `with the plaiters. 4

Fourth. The constructionand arrangement of a set of guides or plaiters', as hereinafter more fully described and set forth.

inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a-plau of our machine with the three sets of rollers, hemmers, and'plaiters, the middle plaiters being 'theonlyones whichare adjusted and .in working order. The others have some of 4the parts-removed so as to allow of' a better `view of those under them." Fig.2 isa plan ot' plai'ters or guides for making the flds in vthevplait on the inner side out' the hem. Fig. 4 .is an end elevation' ofthe -standard which s'upport's'the. feed-rollers. lig.f 5 is a section ofLthe machine, showing ,the parts below the line w :ein Fig. 6.' Fig. 6 'is an end elevation'of the machine, showing the .end

" from which the clothis drawn whenbeing folded. -Fig. 'Z is aplan of thebrakes shown in'connection with. the rollers in Fig. 6. Fie.

S is-a side elevation (looking` to the side farthest from the hemmer) of the plaiters in the position they occupy when ready for operation,

showing also the plaiter which is shown in Fig. 3.

In the various'views,"1 is the inside piece or guide ot' the hemmer,.wh ich turns the edge ot' they cloth the rst time. t

2 is the outsideor lower piece or guide, which turns 'the cloth over the second time.,-TheV cloth passes up from the rollers 3, 4, and 5,

, overthe stretcher 6, and between the guides' '1 and 2 ,whicl1 constitute the hemmer.

7 is the guide wbich'forms thetlrst plait next t,o the hem.

8, 9, and 10 and 11, 12, and 13 are `the plaitlers which' form the side plaits. Maud l5 are thumb-screws,wl1ichholdthem in their places when they have been adjusted.`

The dots at 16 represent an endless chain, l

to which points are attached, and which is easily movable on rollers 'in a-direction par'- allel to the motion of thecloth. This prevents derangement of the plaits.

any lateral motion of the 'cloth and consequent 17,1717 me the beu-platesm which um pen.

ers are attached.

1 8- 18 are therollers 'which communicate motion to the cloth` by the revolutiouof the crank y19 on the shaft 20; This sh'aft is broken ott' at 2l in'Fig. 6.

22 is a supplementary roller, which l holds the linen i n close contact with the rollers 18,

and thus keepsit from slipping.

23 23 are slots inthe guides l 1, which allow the said .guides 1'1`to sired position. 'In Fig. 5, 24 is thecloth. f

26 and 27 in'Fig.6 arecorrugated bars, (the l corrugations extending in an upward and outward direction from the middle lineof'each. bar.) These eiectually stretch the :cloth in a lateral direction preparatory 'to itsbeingwt into-'strips bythe knives 28 an'd rolled` o uthe rollers 3, 4, and 5. There is still another means -for keeping the cloth straightand smooth,wh'ich is the' brake orfriction-pad 30 V30, which comes in contact with the cloth upon the rollers 3 4,

and 5. The knives 2S. are' fixed in the upper edge of the bar 27 where the cloth pass-es over, for thepurposeof cutting, .the cloth into the required widths. 1

The nlaiters are arran ed -|in the following be secured in'any der@ man ner: The hammerhavingbeen adjusted in .the proper position, the plaiter shown in Fig.

' the inner-guide an'd the portion 1r (which is bent up, making, with'the main part, the form of the letter U) above it. This isp-laced on the left portion or side ofthe bed-plate. Another plaiter isethen putonl the right-hand side, and so on alternately on each side till the proper number and arrangement are obtained. The different. plaiters are kept in the proper rel-.1- tive positions by means ol' strips of pastchoard or other suitable material, and the thumbthen firmly in position.

The mode of 'operation of our machine is as follows: The cloth being placed (as itis usually folded up) o'n a shelfl orboard made to receive it at 32, the end-is passed thence over the corrugated bars 26 and 27, and iswouml'npon the rollers 3, 4, and 5 by means of aeran lt or d rivingpulley attached to the shaft.- As it is drawn screws 14 and 15 are screwed down, holding over the corrugated spreading'bars 26 andh27' the knives 28 cut it into three strips, each of which is4 wound on one ofthe divisions of the roller A3,' 4, and 5, After all the piece has beencut and wound' the last ends are taken from the roller,.pas`sed up through the hem mer,

and,afterthey have been adjusted in the plaiters, they are wound partly around the large rollers, passing .under` the said large rollersV 'upon the opposite side and -liretween the large and small rollers. From thncethey are passed and these two arcs are connected by the straigh t lines z s. v

Having thus fully described 'our invention,

we claim as original'and desire Vto secure by Letters Patentl 1. The combination, with the plaiters 8 9 10 and 11, 12, and `13, of the feed-rollersV 18 and 22, by which the cloth is drawn forward and plaited, as herein' set forth.

2.v The combination, with theplaiters 8- 9 l0 and l1, 12, and 13, of a' hemuier, 1 2, constructed and operating substantially as'l set forth.. i

3. The combination of aI stretching, smooth-l ing, or straightening edge, 6, with the hemmer 1 2, asV herein set forth. 4.` The combination of a. stretching, smooth. ing, or straightening edge, 6, with the planters. 8 9 l0 and ll, 12,'and 1'3, as described.

5. The construction, Aarrangement, and op-f. eration of the plaiters 9 .10 and 141, 12', and 13, as herein set forth.v

JOHN STEVENS.

FRANCIS S'BEVENS.

Witnesses: V

H. JAMES WEs'roN, Trios. RHow. 

